Monroe Overton
09 Jan 1906 - 27 Feb 1969
Gone But Not Forgotten
Son of John Evans Overton & Georgia Rockingham
Husband of Mattie Mae Shannon
Father of Dorothy Overton
Buried at Mt Olive MB Church Cemetery
Hazlehurst, Copiah County, MS
Monroe was my paternal grandmother's nephew.
1918-2008
He enlisted 13 May 1941 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi
OBITUARY
Mr. Bledsoe, 90, died Aug. 11, 2008, at G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson. He was born in Brookhaven on March 1, 1918, to William Bledsoe and Ethel Smith Bledsoe.
He was a former truck driver for Southern Wholesale in Brookhaven. He served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church and served on the trustee board.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Eudie Bell Smith Bledsoe; his sons, William and Earnest Bledsoe, his brothers, Denon, R.T., Ameal, Osborne and Burnell Bledsoe; his sisters, Wydell Markham and Gertrude Shipp.
Survivors are his son, Larry Bledsoe, of Gulfport; his daughters, Collisteen Wells and Ora McKeever, of Brookhaven; his sister, Mazie Coleman, of Los Angeles; his 17 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Dedicated to those suffering through devastating weather disasters.
Credit: Courtesy of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Richard was the son of Raymond Flowers and Severe Overton Flowers Carruth.
Severe was my paternal grandmother's sister.
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Cousin Tony saw my post 35th Wedding Anniversary & Family Portrait, showing the family portrait of Paul and Amanda Brandon Rudd and their 12 children. Tony asked if my husband was also related to the Paul Rudd family. I shared my research dilemma and he asked me to share what I knew and he would see what he could find. Two heads are better than one.
Philmore/Filmore Rudd and Sarah Ross were my husband's great grandparents. Concentrating on Philmore, he was found in the 1940 census living with his cousin Richard Ross. Philmore was married, 50 years old, working as a farm laborer. Philmore's wife and children were not with him. In 1930, Philmore is in his own household with wife Sarah and two of their three children. Philmore was listed in the 1920 household of cousin John Ross. Philmore was 25 years old, single, working as a farm laborer, and according to the census he could read and write.
Cousin Tony found a 1917-18 WWI draft registration card, which I had not searched. When I saw who Philmore had listed as his nearest relative, I realized he might be connected to Paul. Philmore's nearest relative was William Rudd of Jackson, Hinds County, MS.
Paul Rudd was born about 1899, likely in Hinds County. Paul's father was William Rudd born about 1864, his grandfather was William Rudd born about 1835, and Paul named a son William born about 1892. I think there is a possibility that Paul and Philmore are half brothers.
I am not sure of Philmore's birth year. The census records have his birth year from 1879-1895. The WWI draft card has his birth year as 1884, which I believe is close to accurate. I think he was likely born to a couple who was not married since he cannot be found in the 1900 and 1910 census records, and he was probably using his mother's surname or her husband's surname.
Philmore's father may be William Rudd, b. 1864. Additional information is needed to verify that there is a kinship between Philmore and Paul. I now think they could be kin.
Mississippi Parchman Penal Farm
Female Prisoners Sewing
Photograph courtesy of Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Our Mother
Catherine McArn
Born Jan 12 1821
Died Feb 8 1885
AE 64 Yrs 26 Dys
Buried at Union Church Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Union Church, Jefferson County, MS
Catherine was the daughter of Dougald and Flora Gilchrist Torrey. She married Duncan McArn. Catherine and Duncan were the slave owners of members of my family, the Sartin family.
Top Row Standing (L to R) Benita, Sherman, Alfred, Myron, Howard, Nancy
Middle Row Seated (L to R) Mary, Yvonne, Paul Rudd Sr., Amanda Bell Brandon Rudd, Emzora, Wilhelmenia
Seated in Front (L to R) Bettye, and Marvin
Paul and Amanda Rudd celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary with their 12 children. Two additional children were members of the family; Paul, Jr., who died at 15 years of age in 1941, and an unnamed female child who died shortly after birth in 1943. The family lived in Chicago.
Paul was the son of William and Ella Hamilton Rudd. He was born about 1899 in Hinds County, MS. Amanda was the daughter of Pink Jack Brandon and Mary Brown Overton. She was born about 1905 in Copiah County, MS.
Ludora is my mother's 1st cousin once removed.
Photograph Courtesy of Lincoln-Lawrence-Franklin Regional Library
Left to right:
Ludora Coleman, b. about 1926, daughter of Smylie Coleman and Joanna Benson
Elijah "Puddin" Smith b. about 1921, son of Asimane Smith and Carrie Jackson
Believed to be a sister of Elijah
The Smith siblings and Ludora were cousins, related through their maternal lines. Elijah had a crush on Ludora's sister Dorcas and he was told he could not marry her because they were cousins. It was said that anyone you had a romantic interest in the Caseyville area was likely a cousin but that didn't stop Elijah from marrying another Caseyville cousin, Velma Scott.
In my neck of the woods, it is graduation season. Siblings Paul Rudd, Jr., and his sister Yvonne graduated from 8th grade the same year, she graduated early. Paul was born about 1926 and Yvonne was born about 1927. The picture was probably taken in 1939 or 1940. They were the children of Paul Rudd, Sr., and Amanda Bell Brandon. Amanda was my paternal grandmother's niece.